THE LISTENING POST

“Alarming” Sinking of Jakarta

~ Indonesia’s capital city is sinking at an “alarming” rate they say. So, the government has begun the long process of building a new one. Thus, Jakarta (on Java) will be abandoned in favor of a new capital at Nusantara in East Borneo. I don’t know what will happen to the 20 million or so residents of Jakarta, or whether the Voice of Indonesia will end up being reborn there. A change like that would be kind of like moving Washington, D.C. to, oh, say Lincoln, Nebraska!

~ Another opposition broadcaster targeting Eritrea has gone active. Erisat Radio using 11690 kHz via Madagascar, operating five days a week (except Monday and Tuesday) from 1800-1900 UTC. Its slogan appears to be “Inform, Engage, Empower”. You can find its website here: <www.erisat.org>.

~ Something still seems amiss with the Colombian Fuerza de Paz on 4940 kHz. A late word from Don Moore on “Slack” indicates that 4940 kHz might well be in Venezuela after all, as the station continues to give GMT-4 time checks as a Venezuelan station would. The World Radio TV Handbook (WRTH-2022) shows 4940 kHz in Arauca; there’s even a P.O. box number and the name of the gentleman to whom you should send reports.

~ Trouble in the Solomons. The Japanese-manufactured transmitters on 5020 and 9545 kHz are on the fritz. Work is proceeding as they try to get them back on the air, according to the SIBC.

~ …but better news from Vanuatu. The station there has returned to the air. Now being heard